POV is either Ron or Hermione, and generally they alternate.

Shadows

Prologue

Ron's POV

It's fall once again, the leaves are slowly changing colour, and children are heading back to school. You loved the fall, the return to classes and your books. At least that's what you used to say, but I know you liked the fall for other reasons as well. 

You know 'mione, I liked the fall too. The return to Hogwarts, and the hours that we could spend alone, I didn't even mind the classes, or the homework. After all  the more homework, the more time you spent helping me, talking to me, sparring with me, and the more time I could spend in that eternal balance between pain and bliss. It hurt; did I ever tell you that? And I didn't know why. I was pretty stupid back then, ok, not stupid because I know you'd throw a fit if you heard me belittling myself again, but you have to admit that I was a dense, jealous, scared little fool. Living with all that pain, and putting you through it too…

I should have just told you how you drove me to distraction, wondering how you felt, and then trying to control the burning fire of jealousy that raged through my body whenever you mentioned Krum. There were so many times I thought that I would loose control, thought that I would just snap and in an instant take you in my arms and just kiss you senseless…

"It's just a letter"

"You like him don't you?"

"I don't have to answer that, besides why do you care?"

"Just because I do…"

If only I'd told you sooner, if only…there was so much time we wasted.

There are so many things that I wish I'd done differently, but it doesn't matter now…

Everything is different, everything.

I wish you were here with me…

He woke early after a restless night, his red hair tousled, pieces falling into his lost blue eyes. I can't stand seeing him this way, the sallow colour of his skin where the freckles have faded, and the lack of fire in those eyes that used to all but burn with passion.

"Hermione" he breathes, his voice soft and low, a prayer, as he glances at the empty pillowcase where my face used to rest.

I know he's hurting, I can feel the anguish radiating off of him, and I suddenly hate myself.  I hate that I am the reason for his dreams, me, and his inability to push me away to where I belong, me and my inability to force myself away.

I can only watch him now, as he lies still beneath the covers, his breathing the only sound in the stillness of the room, as he holds fast to a memory. He never was any good at just letting things go.

I shift closer, longing to reach out and comfort him, as the muffled sound of his sobs reaches my ears.

Ron

He used to be so strong, so fearless.

It's hard to believe that this man before me is the same person as the one in my heart, yet I cannot deny it, and, I can't help but love him with the same intensity as I did when we were together. He is mine, and I will not, can not let anyone else have him.

Still at his side my gaze returns to his face where I watch as his tears stream from those clear eyes I love so much.  I can no longer resist.

I reach out to him, shadowy fingers gently skimming the soft skin of a cheek.

He shivers at my touch, breath catching,

" Mione?"

I am here

I know she is near from the rapid beating of my heart. Yet, at the same time, I realize that this can't be true. 

I cry, my tears sliding down my cheeks to fall onto the pillowcase. I don't care if boys aren't supposed to cry, there is no-one here to see. Yet, I can't help but feel that I am not alone. It's as if at any moment an invisibility cloak would fly to the floor, and in its place she'd be there, her body whole as she looked up at me.

I miss her, and I can't help but long to see her smile, but even more, I long to feel her warm skin against mine.

I shiver, but not from the cold as the whisper of a touch trails over my cheek following the path of a tear.

"Mione…" I breathe. It is as if I can feel her there before me, but I don't dare believe it. People have made it clear enough that she will never be there again, and yet I can't believe them, even if I know it's the truth.

I can feel the anger rising, I hate him, that bloody murderer who took her from me. Voldemort, the fucking psychopath killed her.

That's right, with the wave of his fucking wand and the muttering of a curse, he killed not only Hermione, but me as well.

Come back

I watch the emotions flicker across his face, the frustration and agony, and somehow I know what he's thinking about. I wish he wouldn't, it just makes everything that much harder, besides, Voldemort is gone, Harry killed him.

I can't stay there watching him any longer, it hurts me too much to see him like this, and yet I have no choice. I asked for this fate, and now… no it's already done.

I move away from him, watching as his hand lightly traces the place where I used to lie sleeping next to him. I can feel my heart shattering within my breast. I shouldn't have chosen this, shouldn't have come here.

But I did, and now, now there is no going back. I promised to always be with him, and now I am. A shadow with wings, I am bound by the invisible threads of my heart.

I'm coming