If I Should Die Before I Wake

Chapter 1

After the Battle

Hermione and Ron collapsed in exhaustion, though they were smiling weakly. Finally, the great battle had been won. Suddenly their smiles faded as they looked at each other.

"Harry!" they both whispered.

They began to walk slowly toward where they had last seen him dueling the Dark Lord. They gradually walked faster, faster, and then broke out in a run, stepping over bodies of enemies along the way. Hermione gasped and pointed to the ground.

"Professor Lupin?!" she screamed at a body lying on the ground. He did not stir. Next to Remus was the body of Lucius Malfoy, also dead. But there was a faint flicker of a triumphant smile left on the Professor's face.

Ron and Hermione sobbed together. Ron patted Hermione on the shoulder.

"L-look," he said between sobs, "He was able to kill Lucius before he - he died. Maybe he d-died happy." Hermione nodded, biting her lip in a failed attempt to stop the tears. They looked up. Draco Malfoy was standing frozen in place only a dozen or so yards away, staring at his dead father. He did not weep. He didn't even seem the least bit sad that his father was dead. In fact, the young Malfoy seemed like he was in some sort of trance.

Hermione and Ron weren't sure what to make of the Draco situation. He had been with all the other Death Eaters, but suddenly had started sending spells at theDeath Eaters. The Death Eaters were enraged to see Lucius's son betray them all. Lucius in particular was full of hate to find that his son was not following in his footsteps.

Maybe that's why Draco switched sides, Hermione thought. Only because he didn't want to obey his father's every word. So was he truly on their side? How could they know? But suddenly Draco collapsed, for he had been targeted as a traitor during the battle. Hermione gasped and rushed over to him. Ron, who was a little less trusting, followed cautiously. Hermione inspected the young Malfoy and quickly came up with what was wrong.

"He's just been hit by too many spells, even if they were spells that wouldn't cause him to faint. Many of the Death Eaters must have been enraged that he had betrayed them," she said. "Ron, I think we need to move on and trust him."

"You're right, love," he replied, "All of the Death Eaters are dead, and Draco's still here. He can't be one of them…" Ron found it hard to simply let go of all the miserable years that Draco had tormented him, his family, and his friends. All those years of being called a Weasel, all those years of nasty puns about his unwealthy family, all those years of conflict and hate between them. Every Gryffindor had figured that he was exactly like his corrupted father: a stuck-up pureblood Malfoy. But he knew that Hermione was usually right, and if she could trust Draco, then he probably should too.

Then they saw Lupin lying there again. Hermione broke into fresh sobs. Ron pulled her close and comforted her. They were close; closer than just friends. They saw McGonagall approaching.

"P-Professor McG-gonagall?" sniffed Hermione, unable to continue. She just gazed downward. Minerva gasped.

"Remus…Remus," she murmured sadly, checking for a pulse. There was none. She sighed with sorrow. To Ron and Hermione: "We'd better move on… there are many others wounded in the battle." Her voice was choked with emotion.

"Who?" asked Ron urgently. "Who else is…is…" Ron didn't want to believe it. But the ugly word forced its way into his mind: dead. Many of the members of the Order of the Phoenix must have been killed in the battle. It would be terribly hard for the wizarding world to get over grieving for their loved ones. Ron could hardly imagine if Hermione had died in the war. He would die for her. She knew that. And she would do the same for him.

Professor McGonagall ignored him, not wanting to burden them with the tragic news. She spotted Draco Malfoy lying on the ground. "Oh dear…"

"He's on our side now, Professor," Hermione said weakly. "Please, you must believe us."

McGonagall frowned. "He was all along, Miss Granger. He was a spy for the Order after Professor D-dumbledore…" she couldn't go on. "After he convinced Draco not to follow his father." She whispered, overcome with emotion.

"What's wrong, Professor?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Nothing," she replied swiftly, changing the topic. "We must come back for Remus later. Right now I must go back to see someone."

Ron and Hermione trudged forward, looking for anyone they knew.Ron was desperate to locate everyone in his family. They heard moaning coming from the ground not far away. Soon enough they found out who it was.

"Lavender, are you alright?" asked a fearful Hermione.

"I don't think so. Please get help!" she moaned again. Ron gasped and pointed to her leg. There was blood seeping from a wound that was oddly shaped like a circle.

"Lavender, were you shot?" Hermione asked, losing her head completely.

"Shot?" she asked fearfully. "What are you talking about? All I know is some f---in d--- b---- of a Death Eater sent this purple circle hurtling at me and I couldn't dodge it."

"I'm so sorry Lavender. Guns are only in the Muggle World," Hermione said. "Ron, please go get Professor McGonagall quickly! I'll stay with Lavender."

Ron nodded and dashed off. Hermione held Lavender's hand to help her through the pain. McGonagall and Ron were soon hurrying back. Minerva shooed Hermione and Ron away and dealt with Lavender.

Ron pointed in relief at two identical redheads sitting with their backs leaning against a rock. Fred and George were safe and appeared hardly injured.

"Oi, Ron, Hermione," they called out without their usual spunk. They were exhausted. "Glad to see you two okay," Fred said with such weariness that Hermione was concerned.

"Yes. We were bothworried sick. Have you seen Mum, Dad, or anyone else?" George asked, dreading any ill news he might hear.

"Not yet," Ron replied. We're looking for everyone, but especially Harry. Want to join us?"

The redheads nodded. George stood up, then offered to help Fred up. He pulledFred up slowly and carefully. That's when Ron and Hermionerealized that something was wrong.Fred's shin looked horribly thin, like it was twisted the wrong way. Ronstared at Fred's shin, and Hermione paled.

"Why didn't you tell me something was wrong?" she asked. "I think I can help."

Hermione muttered a spell, and Fred's shin seemed to find it's place again, butthere wasstill a glaring red gash there. Hermione sighed.

"You're hurt pretty bad, Fred. You'll need to go to St. Mungo's as soon as possible."

George nodded. "I tried to tell him, but-"

Fred cut him off. "Uh, alright then. George, can you apparate us to St. Mungo's? I'mfeeling a bit weak."ThenFred put his hand onGeorge's shoulder andthey both disappeared.

Ron and Hermionemade their way toward the center of all the fighting. Hermione let out a silent scream and shuddered. A black cloak was lying on the ground, shrouded in a black mist of evil. The remains of Lord Voldemort.

Ron held Hermione's hand to comfort her as much as to comfort himself as they approached. They saw a boy sprawled on the ground next to the cloak, and Hermione began to scream.

"Harry! Harry!" she screamed, sobbing frantically while Ron stood there in shock. Finally he took action.

"We've gotta get help," he said shakily. "I can feel his heart beating slowly…" he told Hermione to stay here while he went and found somebody. She nodded, but whimpered at the sight of the dark cloak only a few yards away.

"Hurry," she whispered.

"I will." They embraced in an attempt to force the desperate thoughts from their minds. Harry - dead, lying on the ground in a heap... No. Hermione wouldn't let the thoughts enter her mind. She finally let go of Ron and he hurried to find someone; anyone. Hermione slowly sat down next to Harry as her lip quivered.

"Harry… Harry… come back to us," Hermione said softly.

A voice behind Hermione startled her. "Hermione?" the voice asked.

It was Ginny. Hermione couldn't break Ginny's heart and tell her that her boyfriend might die any minute. She just couldn't.

Ginny knelt down by Hermione. When she saw Harry's mangled body she gasped in shock and horror. "No," she whispered. "Harry?" Silent tears flowed from her face as she put her face in her hands. It broke Hermione's heart.

"He's-he's n-not dead," Hermione said. "N-not yet." This caused Ginny to cry harder, thinking of all the suffering he had gone through.

She stroked his hair gently. He had never deserved this. He had never deserve to have his parents killed. He had never deserved to grow up with a cruel aunt and uncle. He had never deserved to face Voldemort again and again, and he had never deserved to be forced to defeat the Dark Lord. Harry didn't deserve any of the hard times in his life. No one deserved this.

Only Harry Potter, the boy who lived, could defeat the Dark Lord to fulfill the prophecy. But why him? It wasn't fair. Ginny would have willingly sacrificed herself; object herself to some of the pain; take an edge off of the suffering for him. She wished she could have his scar, the pain, and the terrible memories. Ginny had just confessed her love to him 4 days ago, and he admitted his love for her. They were a couple. But now, what would become of it? Could he make it? Would he survive?

They would have to wait.

Ron was returningwith others. Maybe there was hope.

They would have to wait.

But no one knew that they would have to wait three, long, years.

No one knew.

Is this too short? Sorry the prologue was so short too. Please give me feedback! I promise I'll try to keep the chapters longer!

Kelsey