Chapter 15: Something Worth Fighting For
Two days later Minerva McGonagall was buried at the cemetery near Hogsmeade, next to her late husband. Hermione felt as if a piece of her was lowered into the ground along with the casket, and she felt like dying all over again. Her mentor and friend was gone. And so was her brother.
Severus put a hand on her shoulder and steered her away after the ceremony was over, and wearily everyone went back to the castle on this most forlorn and dreary day. They inspected the school carefully, and after a request for guards, Cornelius Fudge allowed Severus to have them there at the school. Aurors walked the corridors regularly. Ministry officials popped up here and there. Argus Filch was seen showing them the different secret passages in the school.
"We can go home soon," said Severus one evening as they got into bed. "I know," she said blankly, feeling nothing. He touched her shoulder, "I know all this seems unreal. This is what I've lived for years. But Hermione...as long as we're here, we have to keep fighting. Because there is something worth fighting for." "What's that?" she asked, feeling dead.
He drew her in close and whispered, "Each other." Hermione looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes, and for a minute the world crashed around her; he was right. He was absolutely right. "Severus, if I didn't have you I don't know what I'd do," she said truthfully, and she smiled for the first time in days. "Same here," he said, smiling dryly. Hermione fell asleep that night feeling better, and realizing that there was something worth fighting for.
And Voldemort be damned if she would lose out this time.
[the end]
A/N: There will be a sequel to this; hopefully everyone will want to read it! Reviews please!
Two days later Minerva McGonagall was buried at the cemetery near Hogsmeade, next to her late husband. Hermione felt as if a piece of her was lowered into the ground along with the casket, and she felt like dying all over again. Her mentor and friend was gone. And so was her brother.
Severus put a hand on her shoulder and steered her away after the ceremony was over, and wearily everyone went back to the castle on this most forlorn and dreary day. They inspected the school carefully, and after a request for guards, Cornelius Fudge allowed Severus to have them there at the school. Aurors walked the corridors regularly. Ministry officials popped up here and there. Argus Filch was seen showing them the different secret passages in the school.
"We can go home soon," said Severus one evening as they got into bed. "I know," she said blankly, feeling nothing. He touched her shoulder, "I know all this seems unreal. This is what I've lived for years. But Hermione...as long as we're here, we have to keep fighting. Because there is something worth fighting for." "What's that?" she asked, feeling dead.
He drew her in close and whispered, "Each other." Hermione looked up and saw the sincerity in his eyes, and for a minute the world crashed around her; he was right. He was absolutely right. "Severus, if I didn't have you I don't know what I'd do," she said truthfully, and she smiled for the first time in days. "Same here," he said, smiling dryly. Hermione fell asleep that night feeling better, and realizing that there was something worth fighting for.
And Voldemort be damned if she would lose out this time.
[the end]
A/N: There will be a sequel to this; hopefully everyone will want to read it! Reviews please!