Disclaimer: Credit goes to JK Rowling...(and a few other companies, people, etc. who probably own a little bit of The Boy Who Lived...)

A/N: Well this is it...the last chapter...enjoy...



Chapter Eighteen - Eternally Linked By Love

Hermione sat up, she was covered in blood, but she was breathing. She reached up and put her hand over her chest...her heart was beating: she was alive. She looked over and saw Draco's body, not too far away from her. She looked over and Lucius' body was tied up to a table leg, his wand fallen to the ground beside him. She looked across the room and Harry, Ron, and Ginny were all sitting in a circle, crying together, and comforting each other. Ginny looked over and saw Hermione was sitting up.

"Oh my gosh...HERMIONE!" She exclaimed and got to her feet.

Harry and Ron turned around instantly and saw that Hermione was alive. Harry immediately stood up and ran over to Hermione. He hugged her tightly and then let go.

"Hermione...you're...you're..." He broke off, crying. Hermione nodded but she couldn't find the words to speak. Ginny then ran up to Hermione and hugged her, and she cried on Hermione's shoulder.

"What happened?" Ginny asked. "Draco was gone for forever...we were starting to think it went wrong..."

Hermione was choking with tears by now, but she stifled a sob and said, "We had ten minutes to do or say whatever we wanted before the Spell was complete."

"And? What happened?!" Ginny asked, smiling now.

But Hermione didn't really feel like talking about it. She wanted to keep it to herself...

She contented herself by shaking her head and just saying, "Eternally linked by love..."

Ginny just shook her head and looked over at Harry. She reached over and hugged him too. "She's alive! I don't believe it...she's alive!" she cried out.

"I know! I know!" Harry replied and actually bent down and kissed Ginny he was so happy. Ginny pulled back out of shock and looked at Harry. He just smiled and pulled her close to him again. They kissed again, since there were no words to say.

Hermione giggled and just shook her head, and then looked up at Ron who was watching her uncomfortably.

Hermione looked back at him, not knowing what to do or say. Then Ron spoke,

"So what do I do, when the one I love slips through my fingers like tiny grains of sand?"

Hermione thought for a minute and then she laughed. "You build a sandcastle." She said with a smile.

By now, Harry and Ginny had stopped snogging long enough to watch Ron and Hermione.

"I...I...I d-don't understand." Ron stuttered, trying his hardest to fight back tears.

"I know you don't, Ron." Hermione shook her head. "I've finally understood the meaning of life..." She cut herself off and thought for a moment. "Live like you'll die tomorrow...dream as if it will come true...get what you want yourself...stand up for what you believe in...don't be afraid to take risks..." Hermione laughed, "and dance like no one's watching..."

"But I still don't understand...build a sandcastle?" Ron said, tears streaking down his freckled face.

Hermione reached out and grabbed Ron's hand and held it in hers. She sighed and looked him in the eye, "Ron...I love you. I always have, and I always will. You were the one who was there for me, Ron. You were the only one to help me when I truly needed help. You never left my side. You never betrayed me. You were never anything less than my best friend. That's why I love you." Hermione smiled, but now she was crying again.

Ron's lip trembled as he bent down and whispered in her ear, "I love you too, Hermione, and don't you ever forget that. I will always be there for you..."

Hermione just looked up at him and into his deep chocolate brown eyes. Without actually realizing it, they both slowly leaned in, closed their eyes, and shared a soft kiss.

And together the four of them made their way out of the Shrieking Shack; Harry and Ginny holding hands, and Ron and Hermione holding hands. They slowly trekked up the grounds and up to Dumbledore's office. They had a dead student and a dead man in the Shrieking Shack...they had to tell somebody.

Dumbledore took care of the matters and told the truth to the school about Draco's death. After that, many students came rushing up to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny asking them what happened. But most people were fascinated with Hermione and how she came back to life. All Hermione ever said when people asked her about it was,

"I'm just eternally linked by love."

No one understood what she meant, not even Harry, Ron, or Ginny, but they didn't need to know. Some things you just need to keep to yourself...

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THE END

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