Chapter 2: The Aftermath

"HARRY!" Hermione yelled and tried to run to the hole in the car, but Ron quickly grabbed her around the waist to hold her back. Other Hogwarts students were standing around in shock. Neither student nor Deatheater moved. It was as if time itself has stopped.

"Now Mudblood, it's your turn." One of the deatheaters said, looking at Hermione. Wand ready. Before the Deatheater could do anything, a familiar crack was followed by a group of Order members. Ron recognized Mad Eye Moody, Tonks, Remus Lupin, and not the others that joined them.

The fight was short, almost as if they had accomplished what they had come for.

"Is everyone ok?" Remus asked, noting the upset Hermione.

"Harry." Was all Hermione said in reply. Ron let go of her and Hermione slowly walked over to the hole harry had been blown through moments before, looking for any sign of her fallen friend.

"Where's harry?" Remus asked.

"He's not on the train." Mad Eye said, confirming Remus's worst fear. Remus looked over at Hermione sadly.

"Ron, can you tell us what happened?" Tonks asked, knowing the other would not be able to tell them much right now. Tonks watched as ron took a shaky breath and began to tell the tale.

"I was asleep, and I felt the train lurch to a stop. We, Hermion, Harry, and Me, walked out of the compartment to see what was going on. A Deatheater sent a curse I don't think anyone of us caught. We ducked, and it left that hole over there."

Remus studied the hole in the wall, noticing it took out pretty much the whole compartment. Ron continued.

"Next thing I knew, Harry was getting up, but he was thrown back, I think by the same curse. I didn't hear what they said. He fell through the hole in the wall moments before." Ron said, concluding his version of the events.

The order members all looked solem, Remus especially.

"He's alive." Hermione said for the first time, startling everyone. They all looked over at her.

Gone was the upset, widowed teenager. She now looked more confident than Ron had ever seen her.

"Hermione, no one could have—"

"You're wrong. I'd know if he were gone. I could feel it. He's still alive." She insisted, worrying everyone.

"'mione, we don't want to believe it, but-"

"NO! I know he's still alive!" Hermione insisted. The train driver came back to talk to the order members.

"Look, you two go and move to a new car. We'll talk to-"

"No. We have to find Harry." Hermione insisted. They are wrong. Hermione thought. He's still alive. He'll come back to me. She thought as she gazed out the hole.

"Come on 'mione." Ron said, grabbing her arm. She looked up at Remus.

"You don't believe me. do you?" Hermione said, said, sounding defeated.

"We'll look into it hun." Tonks said, looking at her in sympathy. Hermione looked away and left the group. NO longer able to stand the sympathy.

"You should go after her." Remus said to Ron.

"Do you think she could be right?" Ron asked, looking at the experienced wizards.

"Ron, when someone loves someone else deeply, even if they do not know it yet, and one dies, they never want to believe they are really gone." Remus said, sounding as if he spoke from experience.

"I'm worried about her." Ron stated.

"She'll be ok. What she really needs right now is a friend." Tonks said, and Ron nodded, taking her advice.

"I'm going to go find her." Ron said, and left the order members. Feeling worst than before.

Hermione ran to the only place she could think of. She ran past the students who tried to ask her questions and scared first years. She shoved anyone and anything out of her way as she ran down the hallway, feeling as if it were a hundred miles and not just a few feet. She opened the compartment door, thankful no one was there, as she had thought. She sat down on the seat of the prefect cart, her legs pulled into her chest and head resting on her knees.

A small sob escaped her throat as the tears started. Why am I crying? He's not gone. He can't be gone. I need him. Everyone needs him. She thought. She heard the compartment door open. She ignored it and tried to stop her tears, but she failed. She felt like she was being ripped apart. Her heart was also ripped out of her chest and stomped on by a heard of wild elephants.

"Hey. I knew I would find you here." A familiar voice said and she wished now more than ever that that familiar voice was Harry's.

"Go away Ron." Hermione said, and could not hold back a sob. She heard him step closer and felt the seat move as he sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort.

The train moved forward again, moving the now duo away from their fallen friend.

"Do you, Do you really think he's alive?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked up. Her eyes were full of tears, and her cheeks tear stained.

"Of course." She answered simply. "I don't know how Ron. I just know that deep down in my heart, I know he is alive."

"You love him, don't you?" Ron asked, as a friend. She was silent for a moment.

"I'm sorry, you don't—"

"I didn't realize it before. I started to realize it more and more as I watched him fall apart this year." Ron nodded and placed his arm around her shoulders in comfort.

Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and the friends stayed like that the rest of the ride, both lost in their own thoughts and memories.

To be continued.

A/N:

One thing I want to know is, (if anyone ever reads this) should I give Harry a sibling? Being as his parents didn't die? I originally thought against it, but then the more I think about it, the more I argue with myself. So, what do you guys think? I could always re-work a sibling in there some how. (Would probably be a second year student?) Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

DarkHuntress